Have you spent time with God today?
This morning I have been reading 1 Peter and along with this book of the Bible I have been reading a book called “Love is an Orientation”. The focus of the book is conversation between the church (Christianity) and those of homosexual orientation. I am reading the book due to an invitation to a facebook book club by www.youthspecialties.com
Below I have made some notes about what I see in 1 Peter 1 regarding life in general. This has nothing to do with any specific sin, I think we have ostracized the sin of homosexuality way too much. All sin is sin!
#1 We have been chosen to be obedient to our savior, Jesus Christ.
#2 Everyone in this life will suffer trials, my trials may be different from yours. addictions ect…
#3 These trials are part of a plan to make us who we are to be.
#4 We are to prepare ahead of the trials.
#5 We are to control our desires, not give in to them if they are wrong.
#6 Remember that we have the hope of Jesus death and resurrection which gives us Eternal Life.
#7 Do not give in to your wrong desires. (preaching to me)
#8 Live Holy Lives (this is a never ending process) (sin, repentance,……but with sincerity to change)
#9 This World is not our home! Stop living as if this is it! Keep Eternity in view and live for that end or beginning!
#10 A life of sin is an empty life, it never satisfies for very long.
#11 The only hope we have is God.
#12 We are to genuinely love each other. ALL of us!
#13 Our lives on earth are so very brief (a breath) don’t change God’s Word for any reason, it stands as it is forever.
Ronnie
P.S. I will look at the rest of 1 Peter in tomorrow’s quiet time.
P.S.S.
Lets have our own conversation. I will be a safe place if you ever need to talk. You can say what you think and feel without fear of rejection, without fear of anger, without fear of anything. You have my word that your thoughts and concerns are safe with me. Consider it a safe place.
Ronnie
Here is the link to the facebook book club if you are interested in purchasing the book and getting involved in the conversation: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=8804&post=48870&uid=101942530933#/group.php?gid=101942530933
1 Peter 1
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise to God for a Living Hope
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Be Holy
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
17Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For,
”All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.
Another World Is Possible
In Youth Bible Study at Out Of The Box we have been studying the book “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan, what an awesome book! The following videos are looking at Shane Claiborne and his work for The Kingdom. Shane is one example Francis uses as someone who really lives that way.
Ronnie
Born Without Eyes and Giving God Glory!
The Video spaeks for itself, Wow. Below are Patrick’s own words. I hope that you are as encouraged and movitated as I am.
Ronnie
‘God Made Me Blind — Big Deal’
“I mean, God made me blind and didn’t give me the ability to walk. I mean, big deal.” Patrick said, smiling. “He gave me the talent to play piano and trumpet and all that good stuff.”
This is Patrick’s philosophy in life, and he wants people to know it. He isn’t fazed by what many of us would consider insurmountable obstacles.
“I’m the kind of person that’s always going to fight till I win,” he said. “That’s my main objective. I’m gonna fight till I win.”
Patrick also attends the University of Louisville and plays trumpet in the marching band. The band director suggested it, and Patrick and his father, Patrick John Hughes, who have faced tougher challenges together, decided “Why not?”
No Excuses!
The Blog this past week has been an attempt to remind us that we are the only ones that limit us!
We have seen a man born with no arms and no legs, a man born with Crebreal Palsy, a child born way too early and finally a look at the FACT that Jesus understands our pain. You could say that we are all scarred in our own way. We all have insecurities and issues that we have to deal with but all of us have gifts and graces that we can offer to God for His use.
What are your gifts and graces? We all have the responsibility to find out and then work within those areas as mush as possible. A good place to start may be to discover your Spiritual Giftedness, you can do that by going into the archives here and taking the Spiritual Gifts Inventory. Then we can sit down and talk further about what God has placed on your heart. What is it that you have this overwhelming feeling that God want’s you to do?
It may seem like it would be hard and that there is no way you could be happy if you followed that leading, let me assure you that you will never be more satisfied than when you are in the Center of God’s Will for your life.
What is your excuse?
Ronnie
What’s Your Problem?
David Ring was born on October 28th, 1953, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, he was born with Cerebral Palsy. Orphaned at age 14, passed from family to family with nowhere to call home.
He endured constant physical pain, humiliating public ridicule and constant discouragement. Yet in the face of these seemingly insurmountable obstacles, David emerged not victimized…but victorious!
I have the privilege of knowing David. I have heard him speak several times and David was actually scheduled to speak at Hillsville First United Methodist a couple of years ago. On the week David was supposed to be in Hillsville, he was hospitalized and did not get to come.
David lives with pain every day of his life. David was told that he would never marry and never have children but God is bigger than anyone. David is married and has 4 children.
As you listen to the video’s you may find him difficult to understand at first but you will soon find yourself captured by his quick wit and warm personality.
Ronnie
Every Life is Worth Celebrating
Eliot is a picture of the people in this world who need someone to care.
I sat in my office this morning reading the blog of a new friend and I looked at this video about Eliot and I knew I had to share it with you.
Johnny V. spoke to us many times this week about Laborer’s and he told us that God said “BEG” for Laborers.
I was driving in to the office this morning and all I could think about was the excuses that we use so many times. We are so busy; we have so many things that take precedence in life that we so often miss life.
God needs Laborers and I beg you, be a Laborer for God. Eliot’s life is a picture of so many people in this world and I thank God that his parents were Laborer’s, they had the time, and they took the time to be there for him. We need to be there for all the people in the world who are hurting. I know that we all have problems and pain but I know for certain this morning that mine doesn’t equal the pain of this young family.
Ronnie
Tribute Video to Short Life of Handicapped Baby Inspires and Touches Tens of Thousands
Parents of Eliot, a Trisomy 18 child, celebrated every moment of what they knew would be a brief lifespan
By John Jalsevac
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas, May 23, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In an age when abortion on demand is the norm, and when doctors routinely advise pregnant mothers to abort children found to have genetic abnormalities, parents who choose to give birth to handicapped children are becoming less common.
These days it takes a special type of courage to ignore the advice of physicians, friends, and public sentiment, and to embrace the sacrifices that come with bringing a seriously handicapped child into the world.
Eliot Mooney was one such child. Despite being diagnosed 30 weeks into pregnancy with the typically fatal condition Trisomy 18, Eliot’s parents chose to bring the pregnancy to term.
Their son defied statistical probability by surviving the pregnancy. Eliot Mooney was born with an undeveloped lung, a heart with a hole in it and DNA that placed faulty information into each and every cell of his body.
He would live for only 99 days.
As Eliot’s father says, however, the short length of his son’s life “could not stop the living God from proclaiming Himself through this boy who never uttered a word.”
Knowing that Eliot’s chances of long-term survival were almost nil, on each of the 99 days of his life Eliot’s parents, Matt and Ginny Mooney, celebrated their son’s birthday, noting significant developments in Eliot’s life.
After their son’s death, Matt and Ginny compiled some of the photos and videos of their son’s life into a touching and inspiring 6 minute long tribute video. The video begins two months before Eliot’s birth, when Matt and Ginny found out about their son’s condition, and continues up until, and after his death.
The video, called “Ninety-nine Balloons”, concludes: “Not a pulpit, not a slick presentation, not a best-selling book, but a six-pound boy with Trisomy 18. God showed great pleasure to take a lowly thing in the eyes of the world and show truth…And so today we celebrate. Eliot you are well, and although we miss you more than we can express, we are only separated by our time left on earth. See you soon son. Mom and dad.”
The Mooney’s video has already been viewed over 35,000 times on YouTube alone, with many taking inspiration from the selfless love shown to baby Eliot by his devoted parents.
** Watch the Mooney’s tribute video to the life of their son, “Ninety-nine Balloons**
http://youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0
Read Matt and Ginny’s blog at:
http://www.ninetynineballoons.com/
About Ronnie G. Collins
I am the Planting Pastor of Out of the Box Worship Center and I also serve as the Associate Pastor of First United Methodist Church in Hillsville Virginia. We are a Multi Site Church, one church in multiple locations. Our 1st campus is located at 225 Fulcher Street in Hillsville Virginia. Our 2nd location is on Main Street in Hillsville, FUMC Downtown, Out of the Box Worship Center, and our 3rd location is 522 North Main Street in Hillsville and this is our Youth Ministry Center, FUMC Downtown “Out of the Box”, Youth Ministry. The most recent ministry we have is “Out Of The Box Worship Center” and we are located at 516 North Main Street Hillsville. This site is now my main focus, along with the Youth Ministry.
I have a Passion to see hurting people come to know Jesus Christ. I believe that we as Christians have to demonstrate God’s Love to the world, rather than just telling them they are loved. I am married and have 3 sons two very special nephews that are like sons, 2 grandchildren, 5 great nephews, and one great niece that are like grandchildren. I am a blessed man.
I attended school at Carroll County High School, Wytheville Community College, Liberty University, and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
My passions are as follows:
God
Family
Others
Reading
Running
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/ronnie24317
Twitter http://twitter.com/ronnie24317
Three Minute Thursday’s http://www.facebook.com/threeminutethursdays
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